Springfield CPC workshop reviews CPA eligibility, historic-home lottery and Feb. 26 application deadline

At a public workshop, Springfield City staff outlined how residents and organizations can apply for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for open space, historic resources and community housing and reminded applicants that full applications are due Feb. 26.

"CPA is a Massachusetts law that passed in 2000 that helps cities and towns preserve the character of their communities through a dedicated fund for open space and outdoor recreation, historic resources, and community housing," said Bob McCarroll, who led the presentation. He said Springfield voters adopted CPA in 2016 and that the committee has recommended roughly $20 million to City Council across eight funding cycles. McCarroll said Springfield's annual CPA budget is about $3,000,000.

Why it matters: CPA money is one of the few locally controlled funding sources dedicated to parks, historic preservation and affordable housing. The rules that govern what the committee may fund are set by state law and by the committee's annual plan; applicants who understand eligibility and documentation requirements are likelier to prepare competitive requests.

State law and eligible uses: Staff reviewed Chapter 44B of the…